The penultimate night of the regular season in the Premier League Darts campaign takes place inside the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes on Wednesday evening when for the six men still in with a chance of the semi-final spots the stakes are huge.
We’ve lost two players from semi-final contention this week in Gary Anderson and James Wade, with another in Peter Wright all but gone. They will now assume the role of party poopers for the five men still standing.
Jonny Clayton vs Peter Wright
The opening match of the night is a huge one for both players as Jonny Clayton takes on Peter Wright in a match which the former world champion has to win in order to keep his slim semi-final hopes alive.
It is a match Clayton could do with winning too and actually if he does win this then he could have his last four spot secured if Dimitri Van den Bergh loses later in the evening. Defeat for Clayton isn’t terminal but he would most likely have to beat the Belgian on the final night of the league phase to make it through. Wright has looked very good this week and there is certainly a case to be made for him sneaking this one but when Clayton is good he is very good these days and one of those nights could still be good enough to knock Wright over. I’m on Clayton outright so once again that can act as my interest in this one.
James Wade vs Dimitri Van den Bergh
The second match of the evening is the only one of the four where neither player sits inside the top four going into the penultimate session of the season as James Wade, who is already out of the semi-final running, takes on a Dimitri Van den Bergh who really needs to win this.
If Clayton has won the opening match of the night when Van den Bergh will be eliminated from the semi-final running if he loses this so the pressure is all on the Belgian in this one. Even if Clayton loses, should Van den Bergh follow suit it would mean the World Matchplay champion would have to beat the Welshman to make the last four, and Clayton would have the draw in that game. Twice this week Van den Bergh has thrown and looked like the pressure is getting to him a little. Whether that is the situation of the season or the crowds being back only he will know but it doesn’t look good. Wade played out a brilliant draw with Aspinall on Tuesday evening and a repeat of that could see him take this. I’m tempted by Wade but I’m worried a lack of motivation might arise so I’ll leave this one alone too.
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Gary Anderson vs Nathan Aspinall
The second to last match of the evening sees the beaten finalist of last season, Nathan Aspinall, looking to seal his semi-final spot when he takes on a Gary Anderson for whom being around on finals night on Friday is no longer an option.
Anderson hasn’t really been at the races this week. He was a little unlucky to run into a train in the form of Jonny Clayton on Monday night but despite opening strongly against Michael van Gerwen on Tuesday, he faded quite quickly and his chances of the last four went with it. I don’t think Anderson will throw the towel in and tank here from here on in but clearly he needs to find something, particularly in the scoring. Aspinall might be kicking himself that he let a 7-5 lead slip against Wade on Tuesday but Wade averaged 102 in that 7-7 draw so he probably deserved a share of the spoils. Aspinall scored very well in that match and is clearly enjoying having the crowds back. He just needs to tighten up on his doubles and he can pick up the victory that will secure his semi-final berth. I’ll back him to do just that.
Jose de Sousa vs Michael van Gerwen
The final match of the night should be an absolute cracker as the reigning Grand Slam of Darts champion Jose de Sousa takes on the current table topper Michael van Gerwen in a contest which means plenty to both men.
Van Gerwen has all but nailed his semi-final spot but he hasn’t secured top spot yet and needs to win here to strengthen his claims for that position. Should de Sousa win this match and make it seven matches unbeaten in the league then he would overtake the Green Machine and should Aspinall not have won the previous game it will be the Portuguese Man O’ Scores who will be on top of the pile going into the last night. I expect van Gerwen to win this purely because I’m still not totally convinced de Sousa can be relied upon at the end of legs when his finishing is put under pressure but if this is the night MVG tosses in another of those poor displays which have dogged his campaign then the ‘Special One’ is more than good enough to take advantage. This should be a cracking match but one to watch rather than bet on.
Tips
Back N.Aspinall to beat G.Anderson for a 3/10 stake at 2.20 with Betfair
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